Construction crews are at work on a new long-term care facility in downtown Peoria.

Methodist Medical Center and the RehabCare Group broke ground on the 50-bed health care facility today.

The Greater Peoria Specialty Hospital will offer more options for patients who are on ventilators, need wound care, brain injury or chronic pain treatment.

Most patients will stay an average of 25 days.

"The nearest facitlity with this kind of care is three hours away from Peoria," says Dr. Michael Peil with Peoria Pulmonary Associates. "That causes family and patients to be dislocated from their communities and their physicians."

Methodist Medical Center and the RehabCare Group will own the Greater Peoria Specialty Hospital located near the Civic Center on Romeo Garrett.

The 20 million dollar facility could open by next spring.